Kiwis Thru America - Hiking for those who can't - Raising funds for Catwalk

We are a couple of ordinary, everyday kiwis, doing something epic... we are 'Kiwis Thru America!!'

Kiwis Thru America are two kiwi mates who are setting out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) on May 5th 2019. The PCT is a 4,270km hike from the US/Mexico border to Canada!!

The fact that we can even consider doing this hike is such a privilege, especially when there are so many people who cant even consider walking to the bathroom or to their mail box, let alone over 4,000km!! With this in mind, we want to help support the Catwalk Trust and 'hike for those who cant'. Funds donated go direct to the Catwalk Trust.

Who are Kiwis Thru America?

We are two kiwi mates with a love for the outdoors.

Brent Thurlow (32), is a Wellingtonian currently working as in-house Legal Counsel for AMP in Sydney, who are supporting him in this adventure!

Tom Winlove (32) is a Hawke's Bay local, currently working for Hawke's Bay Fish and Game.

What is the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and thru hiking?

The act of walking end to end in one continuous hike along the PCT and other similar long trails, like the Te Araroa Trail in NZ, is referred to as 'Thru Hiking'. Thru hikes are long distance hikes which usually cross a state, country, or even continent.

Some stats on the PCT... everyone loves some good stats!!

11th longest hiking trail in the world at 4,270km in length.

A hike from the Mexican border to the Canadian border.

1,200km longer than the Te Araroa Trail in NZ (Cape Reinga to Bluff)

Averaging 32km a day it will take us about 5 months.

Only 6,627 people are recorded as completing the trail since 1952.

Lowest point of trail is 43m asl, highest point is 4,003m asl.

Longest stretch between resupply points, about 8 days.

Longest stretch between water sources, about 50kms....in the desert!!

The route passes through 25 national forests and 7 national parks.

Made famous when Cheryl Strayed's memoir 'Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail' was published in 2012 and reached #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list. That was followed by the movie in 2014 'Wild', with Reese Witherspoon.

We will go through about 4 pairs of shoes and our feet will potentially grow a half size or more. People have reported feet growth as much as two sizes! (due to swelling and flattening out)

Why are we hiking the trail?

Because its there!!! and, because we can!! And to raise money for the Catwalk Trust to support spinal cord research

Our connection to the Catwalk Trust?

We guess its lucky we don't have a direct link to the trust in that we don't have good friends or family with any spinal cord injuries. However we have both met plenty of people who have. Working at Backpaddock Lakes and being involved in the NZ wakeboard scene, Tom followed and watched first hand Brad Smeele's rise into the international pro wakeboard scene and has since followed his journey following his tragic accident. In his last year at high school in 2004 Tom also listened to a stellar speech by Catriona. So there is at least a small connection. But ultimately, we both thought that if we are going to hike for 5 months solid across the US, we should do it for something else than just ourselves. Doing the hike for those who cant, yet, consider doing such a journey, seemed like a natural fit and this naturally lead us to the Catwalk Trust. No doubt we will have numerous times on the trail when we are just hating the trail and want to give up, so knowing we are doing this for others will give us that extra motivation we need when times are tough!